Photos: Times Square Transformed Into Outdoor Art Show

Visitors to New York City’s Times Square are confronted every day with large, colorful billboards and flashing signs advertising a range of shows and goods. Now art will be added to the mix, with classic works being displayed throughout the busy tourist spot as part of a nationwide outdoor art show.

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The work “George Washington, c. 1821″ by Gilbert Stuart is seen on an electronic billboard in Times Square Monday as part of “Art Everywhere US: A Very Very Big Art Show.” The nationwide display of images of 58 artworks will appear in public locations across the United States Monday and continue through Aug. 31.

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The image of “Ken Moody and Robert Sherman, 1984″ by Robert Mapplethorpe is seen on an electronic billboard on the side of a building in Times Square Monday. According to the show’s website, the campaign is a “public celebration of great American art” and works will be displayed on thousands of advertising displays such as billboards, subway posters, bus shelters and more.

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A billboard displays “American Gothic” by artist Grant Wood in Times Square is shown. Artworks representing American history and culture were chosen by five art museums from their collection and then voted on by members of the public for a final list of 58 contemporary and classic pieces.

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A billboard displays “World’s Highest Standard of Living,” a photograph by Margaret Bourke-White. A map of the location of the artworks across the country can be seen on the show’s website.

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A billboard displays a painting by George Tooker titled “The Subway” as a hot dog vendor is seen in the foreground on Monday. Times Square is also the location this summer of an installation by Cuban artist Arlés del Rio, which ends Aug. 18.